Weald Action Group

Horse Hill challenge dismissed – but judgment not unanimous

Court of Appeal judges were divided over a claim that Surrey County Council acted unlawfully when it decided to grant planning permission for new oil wells and 20 years of oil production at Horse Hill in Surrey.

One of three judges agreed with campaigner Sarah Finch and intervenor Friends of the Earth that the council should have considered the full climate impacts of the development, including the ‘downstream’ greenhouse gas emissions that will be produced when the oil extracted at Horse Hill is eventually burned.

Continue reading “Horse Hill: Appeal Court judges divided over unlawfulness of decision to allow new Surrey oil wells”

The Weald Action Group has objected to Angus Energy’s planning application to produce oil at Brockham until 2036.

Angus is applying to retain one of the three wells on the site, BRX4, and reperforate it to allow for appraisal and production of hydrocarbons for a ‘temporary period’ of 15 years. The other two wells have been plugged and abandoned.  Read the application documents here: https://planning.surreycc.gov.uk/planappdisp.aspx?AppNo=SCC%20Ref%202021/0165

Continue reading “There is no need for oil from Brockham: WAG objects to oil production plans”

The legal challenge to Surrey County Council’s 2019 decision to allow 20 years of drilling at Horse Hill was heard in the Appeal Court on 16-17 November.

Lawyers on both sides argued their cases, and the judges listened attentively.  They will now deliberate, and we do not expect to hear the outcome for several weeks, or possibly longer.

Thank you everyone who was part of this, it has been a huge team effort, and funded by hundreds of people.”

Read more about the Appeal: http://www.wealdactiongroup.org.uk/2021/11/horse-hill-court-of-appeal-to-hear-challenge-to-controversial-oil-drilling-permission/

• UK government to defend council’s controversial decision in court
• 9am, campaigners with placards will gather outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand to mark their opposition to oil drilling at Horse Hill

A woman who opposes Surrey County Council’s decision to allow oil drilling in greenbelt countryside, near Gatwick airport, is taking her legal battle to the Court of Appeal today.

Continue reading “Horse Hill: Court of Appeal to hear challenge to controversial oil drilling permission”

The Court of Appeal will hear a legal challenge on Tuesday 16 November 2021 to Surrey County Council’s controversial decision to grant planning permission for 20 years oil production at Horse Hill, in greenbelt countryside in Surrey.  

Continue reading “Horse Hill: Court of Appeal to hear challenge over controversial oil drilling permission”

On 6 November, halfway through the COP26 Climate Summit, 150 people joined a rally at Horse Hill organised by the Horse Hill Protection Group.

Continue reading “Campaigners demand Climate Justice at Horse Hill oil site”

The legal campaign to stop oil drilling at Horse Hill in Surrey is one of four cases that Friends of the Earth has highlighted as threatening the UK’s climate reputation. Another of the four is the UK providing $1.15 billion in funding for liquid gas drilling in Mozambique, fuelling human rights abuses.

Mozambican campaigner Kete Fumo sent a message of solidarity with those fighting the Horse Hill case – and called on UK citizens to support and publicise their fight. Her message was  broadcast at the Horse Hill Climate Justice Rally on 6 November:

Continue reading “Let’s keep up the fight! Solidarity message from Mozambique”

Press release from Horse Hill Protection Group

Demonstrators will join thousands across the world at a rally at the Horse Hill drill site on 6 November 2021 as part of the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice. [1]

Continue reading “Climate Justice Rally at Horse Hill, Saturday 6 November”

Researchers from Clean Air Task Force (CATF), an international climate advocacy NGO, have discovered significant methane emissions from oil and gas facilities in the UK – including Horse Hill.

Researchers equipped with special infrared cameras visited 17 onshore oil wells and found significant emissions of methane and other toxic gases from 13 of them.  Two of these sites are potentially super-emitters and are some of the largest events CATF has witnessed in Europe after visiting more than 250 sites in 12 countries.

At Horse Hill, which is the newest site visited, they found emissions of methane and other toxic gases coming from five sources: the three separator tanks, a connection hose, and the unlit flare.

VIEW HERE >> https://tinyurl.com/HorseHill-Methane2021

About methane Continue reading “Infrared cameras show methane and toxic gases escaping from five sources at Horse Hill”

IGas has applied for planning permission to produce hydrogen at two sites in Bletchingley, Surrey.

Surrey County Council is consulting on the plans. Please look at the application documents and send the Council your views on the Council’s planning portal here: https://planning.surreycc.gov.uk/planappdisp.aspx?AppNo=SCC%20Ref%202021/0145

– the deadline is Monday 18 October 2021. 

Continue reading “Say no to grey hydrogen production at Bletchingley”